Question for parents of babies. Do you use a baby carrier? Why?

Question

It seemed pretty obvious to me why they'd be useful, but I just got a "Hmm. Why can't you just carry the baby?" question from somebody, and, honestly couldn't adequately answer it...

Anything -- sling, Baby Bjorn-type thing, car seat, etc.

Answer 1

Ok...

If you're talking about the slings?...then it's because you're pretty much useless without out at least one free hand...so using a sling to carry your baby allows you to comfort your child while also being able to use your hands for other things...opening mail, feeding yourself, making a bottle...etc.

If you're talking about the little seats (that are actually carseats) ...sometimes baby is asleep and why would you want to wake a sleeping baby? Not only that....but infants find comfort in things that are familiar...so if you're in a strange place..baby may be more comfortable in his own space. AND ...you can set him down next to you and have a hand free to do other things.

Answer 2

The only carrier I have for my baby (3 months) is her infant car seat. It's great because sometimes we can strap her into the seat inside the house and then quickly put her into the car, since its still winter outside. Also, when we go into a grocery store she can't sit in the shopping cart so she stays in her car seat and I put it into the basket. Same thing with restaurants.

I don't have one of those sling carriers that attaches to me, around the house I do just carry her. But she's a baby who doesn't just want to be held all the time or else I might consider it.

Answer 3

I've a baby bjorn, and I use it because I have a baby (8mos old) who LOVES to be with Mama, but sometimes Mama has to get things done. :-) And two hands help. There are some things where you could just put the baby on the hip, but others are much easier with baby in a carrier.

Ever tried doing and carrying a basket of laundry with a baby on your hip? :-) Much easier with both hands free, if only for lifting it up. Ditto for washing dishes (for which you DEFINITELY need both hands), carrying groceries, etc. She LOVES to hang out in the bjorn while we go shopping (she likes to hold onto the cart handle and "push"). Also, it frees up both of HER hands (as I'm sure you know, most babies "hold on" with one arm when they're on your hip), so she can play with stuff with both hands.

My baby also likes to sleep in the bjorn facing inward. If I sit down after she's gone to sleep, she's nice and still, and close to Mama. Almost like a cocoon. But it doesn't matter who's holding her; does just as well with Da-Da wearing the sling as well.

I didn't even think about getting a Bjorn before she was born (I received one as a hand me down), but now I can't imagine life without it.

Answer 4

It's much more convenient and safe to carry the baby in the car seat carrier. You have your hands free for opening doors, carrying diaper bags, etc. I used both the car seat carrier, and I also had a Baby Bjorn carrier, and I used them both equally and loved them both. The Baby Bjorn was expensive but worth the investment because the cheaper brands were not nearly as comfortable.

Answer 5

Do you mean slings? I had a Snugli but it didn't support well on my back and always left me hurting. A sling didn't seem comfortable to me, either. I considered a Baby Bjorn, but they were awfully expensive. There comes a point when the baby is heavy enough that you can't just carry them around nonstop, so you have to do something.

Answer 6

If you are talking about the sling, I found it very helpful. For exercise after I had my son, I would hike on the horse trail at a local park with my son in his sling. After 3 miles, he would have been too heavy for my arms without the sling. This way, my Abs got the best workout! He was very cozy in the sling, and had an exact view of what I was viewing (His favorite position was the kangaroo, sitting facing outward with legs crossed Indian style). So if there was a rabbit or deer on the trail, he would see it when I saw it instead of after when it was running away.

If you are talking about the car seat, we had that too, and it was very convenient to not wake him to bring him into the house, and very easy to take him into the doctor's office or other situations when I couldn't hold him and didn't have anyone else to go with me.

Answer 7

I don't know whether you're referring to the slings or the carseats, but either way, they're providing you with a free hand or two, which is always useful. As for the slings, though. I have to say I bought one and I wanted to use it, but it was difficult to get baby in and out of and my daughter just did not like it, so I ended up holding her anyways. Of course I'm not complaining. I love holding my daughter, but the sling was a waste of money in retrospect.

Answer 8

With my first I did not use a carrier. I carried the baby everywhere. With number two I used a carrier so that I could have free hands to run after my two year old.
If you have the time, the baby diserves the time and attention.

Answer 9

you mean like a snugli?

Snuglis are crap, but if you get a good sling you can nurse in it and keep the baby close and still have both hands free... its great for doing housework and shopping. Baby can nurse, sleep and explore while cozied up to momma where she feels safe.

Answer 10

Ugh. I recieved one as a shower gift from my mother in law. I thought it would be so convenient at first; then I actually tried it. I don't know if I was more worried about my daughter falling out or more worried about how uncomfortable she looked. I think I finally just gave it away and never used it when I had my second child